'We will play a key role in football's future' - independent football regulator the new chairman
Sheffield Wednesday's persistent issues constitute a "significant problem" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in such situations, the recently named head the official has announced.
Through a comprehensive talk, the chairman, who was appointed on Monday, expressed "sympathy" towards supporters of the Owls.
The regulator engaged with four supporters' associations representing the South Yorkshire club recently.
The team have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in 2025, with the club missing wage payments on several different times, including in the autumn.
"Evidently Wednesday represents a serious issue for football authorities and a significant problem for football," the chairman stated.
"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the iconic names for English football and recently we have met fan representatives.
"Our aim is to acquire the ability... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs submitted for our review if they warrant scrutiny and acted upon."
Financial Struggles and Leadership Concerns
The team's struggling chairman Dejphon Chansiri suggested earlier this year he would be prepared to relinquish control at their home ground, but he has failed to complete a sale with interested parties.
Missed wage deadlines on time in March and May resulted in restrictions being imposed by the football authorities in June, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the next three transfer windows, although the ban was rescinded in the end of the transfer window.
Regulator's Perspective
Kogan said: "The job [of the regulator] is there for the supporters of Wednesday, Bury or any football club where people are committed to a regional establishment that has represented their community in numerous instances.
"I completely understand the club's situation, as I do for each organization that in modern times have encountered failure, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the fans themselves."
Inquired if the authority might compel an owner to sell a club if they are considered unfit, the chairman responded: "Should the inquiry concern 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the response would be once we collect the information and comprehend the circumstances, we will."
But Kogan stressed that compelling proprietors to divest clubs would be considered the final option and the oversight body would choose to work with them.
"Our least desirable course of action is begin intervening in an specific team, an particular chairman, without being in a position to cooperate with that owner to try and resolve the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," the regulator explained.
"However, realistically, when you examine the past of football, over the recent generations there have been some owners, few in number, but certain individuals who have acted carelessly in the approach they have taken toward their teams and eventually refuse to accept accountability for the long-term prospects."
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have been protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri during the current campaign
'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'
The chairman convened with delegates from multiple organizations to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.
"This position carries substantial significance, because if we get it wrong, if the sport makes errors, the remarkable development accomplished could disappear incredibly quickly," the chairman stated.
"And that's what nobody wants in the context of the English game is a major achievement - we've got to keep it going.
"Substantial financial resources flowing into the game and has been channeled for the recent generations, because there's no guarantee it will continue to come into football, which is one of the reasons why I think we have to take a really clear view on risk and of course, of the coming seasons."
Premier League Concerns
The Premier League opposed the creation of a regulator because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the Premier League's sporting equality, but the chairman responded: "I completely endorse the achievement and development as an economic entity of the top division.
"As someone who appreciates the apprehension regarding damaging the division as a high-quality offering of this country. But simultaneously, if you engage with division representatives after this week's discussion, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, actually, they have been advising us privately they have a high level of reassurance."
Ideological Links
The chairman continues to confront a "thorough examination" by the public appointments commissioner after he disclosed making donations to the political party in the past.
The official donated money to government minister Lisa Nandy's leadership campaign, along with that of the now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"I have been entirely transparent regarding my previous political affiliation [with Labour], and that party membership ceased the day the official body endorsed my nomination," Kogan said.
"I am no longer involved in any type of partisan engagement."
